Stuart Strong in Series Opening Loss at UConn
STORRS, CONN., May 10, 2019 – The USF baseball team put the go-ahead run on base in the ninth, but dropped the series opener at UConn Friday afternoon, 4-2.
The Bulls (23-24, 5-13 The American) struck in the first inning on a
Jake Sullivan (Tampa) solo home run, but the Huskies (29-19, 9-9 SEC) matched in the bottom half.
Senior
Kyle Phillips (Orlando) led off the third with a single, then advanced on an error. Senior
Garrett Zech (Naples, Fla.) got on base in the next at-bat and another error allowed Phillips to score from second, making it 2-1.
USF got the first two Huskies out to start the bottom of the seventh. After a walk, UConn took its first lead with a two-run homer to left. The Huskies added an insurance in the eighth to make it 4-2. USF put two runners on in the top of the ninth with two away. A line drive off the bat of
Jordan Santos (Tampa) nearly made it through the right side, which would have scored two, but a diving catch ended the game.
Key Stats
4 – Sullivan's fourth home run of the season.
6.0 – Sophomore
Baron Stuart (Okeechobee, Fla.) had yet another solid outing, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing just one run with four strikeouts.
Nota-Bulls
- Zech went a season best 3-for-4 with a walk.
- Sullivan went 2-for-4.
Up Next
The Bulls and Huskies will now play a doubleheader on Saturday due to inclement weather expected later in the weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. Both games will be nine innings.
About USF Baseball
The University of South Florida baseball team is one of the fastest rising programs in the country. The Bulls reached the NCAA Regionals in 2015 for the first time in 13 years and followed that success with a 42-19 record and second NCAA regional trip in three years in 2017. The Bulls continued the success under first-year head coach Billy Mohl in 2018, reaching 36 wins and advancing to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since 2012, while being ranked in multiple polls for the final two months. USF earned its third NCAA Regional berth in the last four seasons and had six all-conference selections in 2018. The team had four players drafted in the 2018 MLB Draft, including the program's fourth first rounder, Shane McClanahan. Junior third baseman David Villar was taken in the 11th round after tallying 24 doubles and hitting better than .370, being named first team all-conference and an All-American. The USF Baseball program has won five conference titles and the Bulls have made 13 NCAA appearances.
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